Ophioglossum, the adder's-tongue ferns, is a genus of about 25–30 species of ferns in the family Ophioglossaceae, of the order Ophioglossales. The name Ophioglossum comes from the Greek, and means "snake-tongue".
Ophioglossum vulgatum is a deciduous fern with an erect, two-part frond, separated into an ovate to diamond-shaped sheath and a narrow, spore-bearing spike. Adder's tongue fern will reach a height of 0.2m and a spread of 0.1m after 2-5 years. The root and the leaves are antiseptic, detergent, emetic, haemostatic, styptic and vulnerary. An ointment made from the plant is considered to be a good remedy for wounds and is also used in the treatment of skin ulcers. The expressed juice of the leaves is drunk as a treatment for internal bleeding and bruising.
